1925
Elvin
2007
Elvin Pederson
September 20, 1925 — June 12, 2007
Los Fresnos, TX:
Elvin P. “Pete” / “Sonny” Pederson passed away on Tuesday, June 12, 2007. Sonny was born on September 20, 1925 in Meridian, Texas to the late Elvin Pernell and Jessie Trammel Pederson. The Pederson’s moved to the Rio Grande Valley in 1928 settling in Los Fresnos and were part of the early farming movement.
From the time he was five years old, Sonny and his sister Doris Marie along with other family members worked in the Los Fresnos area canneries as well as helping on the farm. Upon completion of high school, he enlisted in the United States Army where he received a medical discharge due to a back injury. He then enrolled at Texas A & I University in Kingsville where he met and fell in love with Frances Irwin. After two years of college, Sonny and Frances married and came back to Los Fresnos.
For many years, Sonny’s entrepreneurial endeavors took him to many different places. He owned and operated the local Humble Oil franchise which changed names to ENCO and then to EXXON where he achieved high honors for overall sales for fuel and hard goods. He started Pederson Sales Co., Inc. which manufactured, packaged, sold, and shipped liquid and dry fertilizer throughout the state and into Mexico. He also, along with his dad managed Pederson Farms where he concentrated on the cotton and grain market. In the late seventies, armed with nothing more than a green thumb and a hard work ethic, he started South Texas Landscaping and Contractors which later flourished into the present Pederson Construction Company, Inc. Over the years, he participated in various civic organizations such as the Los Fresnos City Commission, The Los Fresnos Lions Club, and the Los Fresnos CISD school board. He was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church of Los Fresnos where he served in various capacities over the years.
He is survived by Frances, his wife of sixty one years; four sons, Elvin J. “Jere” Pederson of Galveston, Texas, Jon Pederson (Denise) of Los Fresnos, Mark Pederson (Kay) of Midland, Texas, and Paul Pederson (Darlene) of Los Fresnos; grandchildren, Shelby, Tyra, Kristin, Travis, Chad, Brandon, and Shane Pederson; great grandchildren, Tyler, Chase, Kaylyn and Morgan Pederson; aunt, Bernice Pederson of Leakey, Texas; nieces, Cherie Moller Carraba of Crockett, Texas and Michelle Parker Howles of Georgetown, Texas; cousins, Paul Whitlock Pederson of San Antonio, Texas, James T. Hollon of Flatonia, Texas, Larry D. Hollon, Barbara Wyatt, Joann Doris, Wanda Lee Duncan, and Peggy Lynn Artley; and sister-in-law, JoAnn Irwin of San Antonio, Texas.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 13, 2007 from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. with the family present from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Elvin J. Pederson, Jon Pederson, Mark Pederson, Paul Pederson, Travis Pederson, and Dr. Thomas A. Blackwell.
Services will be held on Thursday, June 14, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Los Fresnos with the Reverend Emet Huntsmen officiating. Interment will follow at Mont Meta Memorial Park in San Benito.
Memorial donation may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 402 S. Arroyo Blvd. Los Fresnos, Texas 78566.
Dad had a heart as big as the universe and his will and determination to succeed, to over come adversity and to flat out live were unmatched and unsurpassed. He believed that a man’s word and his handshake was a binding contract. He was a true gentleman but above all else a true Christian. He believed in the goodness of man and helping those less fortunated. He was a man of tremendous pride, trust and integrity. If we could just be half of the man you were Dad we will have succeeded in life. We’ll miss you but wer will see you again. We love you!
You are invited to sign the guestbook at www.buck-ashcraft.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
Elvin P. “Pete” / “Sonny” Pederson passed away on Tuesday, June 12, 2007. Sonny was born on September 20, 1925 in Meridian, Texas to the late Elvin Pernell and Jessie Trammel Pederson. The Pederson’s moved to the Rio Grande Valley in 1928 settling in Los Fresnos and were part of the early farming movement.
From the time he was five years old, Sonny and his sister Doris Marie along with other family members worked in the Los Fresnos area canneries as well as helping on the farm. Upon completion of high school, he enlisted in the United States Army where he received a medical discharge due to a back injury. He then enrolled at Texas A & I University in Kingsville where he met and fell in love with Frances Irwin. After two years of college, Sonny and Frances married and came back to Los Fresnos.
For many years, Sonny’s entrepreneurial endeavors took him to many different places. He owned and operated the local Humble Oil franchise which changed names to ENCO and then to EXXON where he achieved high honors for overall sales for fuel and hard goods. He started Pederson Sales Co., Inc. which manufactured, packaged, sold, and shipped liquid and dry fertilizer throughout the state and into Mexico. He also, along with his dad managed Pederson Farms where he concentrated on the cotton and grain market. In the late seventies, armed with nothing more than a green thumb and a hard work ethic, he started South Texas Landscaping and Contractors which later flourished into the present Pederson Construction Company, Inc. Over the years, he participated in various civic organizations such as the Los Fresnos City Commission, The Los Fresnos Lions Club, and the Los Fresnos CISD school board. He was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church of Los Fresnos where he served in various capacities over the years.
He is survived by Frances, his wife of sixty one years; four sons, Elvin J. “Jere” Pederson of Galveston, Texas, Jon Pederson (Denise) of Los Fresnos, Mark Pederson (Kay) of Midland, Texas, and Paul Pederson (Darlene) of Los Fresnos; grandchildren, Shelby, Tyra, Kristin, Travis, Chad, Brandon, and Shane Pederson; great grandchildren, Tyler, Chase, Kaylyn and Morgan Pederson; aunt, Bernice Pederson of Leakey, Texas; nieces, Cherie Moller Carraba of Crockett, Texas and Michelle Parker Howles of Georgetown, Texas; cousins, Paul Whitlock Pederson of San Antonio, Texas, James T. Hollon of Flatonia, Texas, Larry D. Hollon, Barbara Wyatt, Joann Doris, Wanda Lee Duncan, and Peggy Lynn Artley; and sister-in-law, JoAnn Irwin of San Antonio, Texas.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 13, 2007 from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. with the family present from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Elvin J. Pederson, Jon Pederson, Mark Pederson, Paul Pederson, Travis Pederson, and Dr. Thomas A. Blackwell.
Services will be held on Thursday, June 14, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Los Fresnos with the Reverend Emet Huntsmen officiating. Interment will follow at Mont Meta Memorial Park in San Benito.
Memorial donation may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 402 S. Arroyo Blvd. Los Fresnos, Texas 78566.
Dad had a heart as big as the universe and his will and determination to succeed, to over come adversity and to flat out live were unmatched and unsurpassed. He believed that a man’s word and his handshake was a binding contract. He was a true gentleman but above all else a true Christian. He believed in the goodness of man and helping those less fortunated. He was a man of tremendous pride, trust and integrity. If we could just be half of the man you were Dad we will have succeeded in life. We’ll miss you but wer will see you again. We love you!
You are invited to sign the guestbook at www.buck-ashcraft.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
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